Carpet Face Weight And Total Weight

Backing is heavy compared to the carpet fiber so total weights are much higher than face weights.

Carpet face weight and total weight.

Carpet face weight is defined as the weight of the carpet pile per square yard of carpet measured in ounces. You ll hear a lot from carpet retailers about how important carpet face weight is and how it s the main thing to keep in mind when figuring out how much quality you re getting from a carpet. Fiber face weight is not the same as total carpet weight which includes the weight of the carpet backing and the fiber face weight. As an example within one product line the good level carpet has a face weight of 40 oz.

Face weight is the actual weight of the fiber used to manufacture the carpet pile but does not include the weight of the carpet backing. The weight of the back also doesn t mean much as far as durability. An olefin sample may weigh more than a nylon but it has entirely different performance qualities. Face weight makes a difference but only when comparing similar products.

Pile height the thickness of the carpet from the backing to the surface is one of the factors that determines the face weight of your carpet. As a general rule the shorter the carpet pile and the lower the face weight the more durable it is as it s less likely the yarn will crush and show signs of wear due to foot traffic. This is different from the total weight of the carpet which is the sum of the carpet pile and the carpet backing. Most carpets have a face weight between 20 ounces and 100 ounces but the average face weight for a residential carpet is about 45 ounces.

A higher face weight does not automatically mean the carpet is a better grade. There are tolerances for face weight which have to be met that allow variance of between 5 and 7 depending on the product and what guidelines it has to comply with whether gsa or industry standard. Face weight is the actual weight of the fiber used to manufacture the carpet pile but does not include the weight of the carpet backing. Carpet face weight refers to how many ounces each square yard of carpet pile weighs.

The tufted weight of any carpet is the weight of the material at the tufting machine or prior to any shearing being done of the pile surface. Fiber face weight is not the same as total carpet weight which includes the weight of the carpet backing and the fiber face weight. Most carpets have a face weight somewhere between 20 ounces and 100 ounces but the average face weight for a residential carpet is about 35 to 60 ounces. It should not be confused with the carpet s total weight which is the combined weight of the pile plus the backing.

The term refers to the weight of the carpet s fibers only not the backing material. Yes a heavier backing may be better made but it s not accurate enough to judge a carpet.